A Bibliophile’s Thoughts: Book Recommendations

I’m an avid reader. I prefer reading some serious YA novels. I’m talking about depression, bullying…you know, the heavy stuff. But I don’t just read the heavy stuff. I like reading some inspiring and funny books too to balance out all the dark stuff I read.

With that said, here are some of my book recommendations you should read:

Photo source: goodreads.com

All the Bright Places

This became a fast favorite of mine. This book is so heart wrenching! If you’ve read this already, you know what I’m talking about. Depression and suicide play a large part in the story, and follow our two protagonists, Theodore Finch and Violet Markey, who met on the top of a bell tower at their school and proceeding to spend time with each other when they got partnered up for a project.

FAIR WARNING: This book will destroy you (at least it did with me).

“It’s my experience that people are a lot more sympathetic if they can see you hurting, and for the millionth time in my life I wish for measles or smallpox or some other easily understood disease just to make it easier on me and also on them.”

– Jennifer Niven, All the Bright Places –

The Rest of Us Just Live Here

This became a fast favorite of mine. This book is so heart wrenching! If you’ve read this already, you know what I’m talking about. Depression and suicide play a large part in the story, and follow our two protagonists, Theodore Finch and Violet Markey, who met on the top of a bell tower at their school and proceeding to spend time with each other when they got partnered up for a project. FAIR WARNING: This book will destroy you (at least it did with me).

“Not everyone has to be the Chosen One. Not everyone has to be the guy who saves the world. Most people just have to live their lives the best they can, doing things that are great for them, having great friends, trying to make their lives better, loving people properly. All the while knowing that the world makes no sense but trying to find a way to be happy anyway.”

– Patrick Ness, The Rest of Us Just Live Here –

Photo source: nerdybookclub.wordpress.com

Photo source: litreactor.com

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

I loved this book because of how it’s basically a gender and social political commentary. Though I don’t deny that Frankie sometimes seems a bit crazy, it’s still a good read. If you’re a fan of a coming of age and breaking stereotypes, this most definitely a read for you.

WARNING: I’m bringing out my inner feminazi

“It is better to be alone, she figures, than to be with someone who can’t see who you are. It is better to lead than to follow. It is better to speak up than stay silent. It is better to open doors than to shut them on people.”

– E. Lockhart, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks –

My Sister’s Keeper

I don’t just read YA novels. I do sometimes pick up adult fiction (mostly just Mitch Albom and Nora Roberts). This is one of the stories that always make me tear up, no matter how many times I read it. It’s about this family fighting among themselves, the mom vs. the youngest child, in court for independence on her body. Intrigued? Then read it to find out why.

“Sometimes to get what you want the most, you have to do what you want the least.”

– Jodi Picoult, My Sister’s Keeper –

Photo source: amazon.com

Photo source: goodreads.com

Falling Into Place

This is another heavy topic, suicide, depression, and bullying. Instead of the usual victim of bullying, the protagonist is the bully. But why would she be depressed? Liz Emerson is popular and rich but what you don’t know is her life isn’t perfect as others think it is. There’s the inner turmoil she faces every day. Turns out the bully does feel guilty about all the things she’s done. This is certainly a great read.

“She finally figure out that she, Liz Emerson, was the equal and opposite reaction. She was the consequence.”

– Amy Zhang, Falling Into Place –

Cracked Up To Be

First of all, Courtney Summers is one of my most favorite authors of all time. Her books always leave me open and vulnerable. I want to recommend all her books but Cracked Up to Be is the first book I read, so I’ll settle for this for now. The story follows Parker Fadley, basically the perfect It girl in high school until she wasn’t anymore. But don’t get the wrong idea, she wanted it this way. But despite the intense story of Cracked Up to Be, some lines in the book is just so sarcastic that it’ll incite a smile from me.

For example: “Jake and Chris talk through art and discover they have so much in common it’s amazing. Like, They Could Be Boyfriends If They Didn’t Like Vaginas So Much Amazing.”

Word of advice: READ.THIS.NOW

“This is unbvelievable. They still have hope for me. I have done something wrong if they still have hope for me.”

– Courtney Summers, Cracked Up To Be –

Photo source: goodreads.com

What about you? What are your book recommendations? Share it in the comments below!

The weekend is the perfect time to relax and let loose – but not on your healthy lifestyle! Just because you’re not on your usual work schedule and routine doesn’t mean you can start eating junk food and not exercise! It’s during that 2-day break where you can lose the healthy momentum you’ve built.

A new year means another set of 365 days to keep fit and take care of your health and well-being. Just because it’s the holiday feast just ended doesn’t mean we should lax off on all our hard work the previous year.